June 04, 2017

Three Ways to Pay Down Debts

The following post is from FMF contributor Brad Richardson.

It always seems like no matter how hard we try, we can’t get ahead of our debts. They are always there, looming in the background, taunting us and reminding us of our spending sins. You know the only way to pay down your debts is to actually just start paying them, right? It’s not rocket science. People would like you to think it is, because if it wasn’t hard, we’d all be debt free. The truth is that paying down your debts, while it can take a while, is not impossible. Here are three ways to help you pay down your debts.

Step One: Identify how much debt you actually have.

This sounds simple, but a lot of people don’t actually know the total amounts they owe on their debts. And you would be surprised at the number of people who don’t consider certain types of debts, like a vehicle loan, to be actual debt. Sorry friend, it is actual debt. So start by determining how much debt you have. Include all of it in your list. Then determine how much interest you are paying on each debt. Again, consumers often don’t know the percentage rates of how much they are paying in interest. You need to know this to build your repayment plan, so put the work in ahead of time.

Step Two: Go through your newly formed list of debts and interest rates and number them in order of highest interest rate.

Regardless of how much you owe, your interest rates are what kill your repayment plan. You will start with the highest interest rate first. So how much do you owe on your highest interest rate debt? $5000? $10,000? $100,000? Whatever it is, start with that. Even if other amounts are higher, if they have less interest, forget them for now. Figure out how much you can afford to throw at that high interest debt. Then figure out how long it will take you to pay that debt off. Frankly, you might need to get another job to help you tackle the debt. Be prepared to have to work hard to get rid of the debt, and you will be able to do it. Once you know how long it will take you to pay off the first high interest debt, figure out the second. Then move to the third, and so on. Realistically, it could take you 10 years to pay off your debts. But if you plan it right, you can do it so that you don’t continue to accumulate more debt while trying to pay off old debt.

If you aren’t sure how to proceed, you can seek the help of a professional debt solution manager. Doyle Salewski is a professional debt solutions company that can help you figure out the best way to tackle your debt. Don’t be afraid to reach out to someone who knows more about you than debt. If you knew everything there was to know about debt, you wouldn't be in this position in the first place. Put your pride aside and ask for help.

Step Three: Save.

It may seem counter-intuitive to save money when you could be paying down debts with that money, but it is important to always consider your future. Even when you are dealing with your past. What if you lost your job? What if you suddenly made less money? Even if it’s $20 a month, put it away for safekeeping. And don’t spend it. It’s for your future. You can’t keep spinning your wheels in a cycle of debt and repayment, and saving a little money on the side can help you get out of that cycle. For instance, when your credit cards are paid off, you might want to stop living on them. You’ll need cash to overcome that hurdle. The money you saved while you were paying down your debts can help you do that. Looking ahead to your future can be a great way to help you deal with the stresses of paying down debts. Commit and start paying down your debts today. You won’t regret it.

Comments

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Good points! We went with paying off debts by the amount owed instead of interest. It worked in our favor because we eliminated smaller debts (and their minimum payments), which allowed us to pump higher amounts of money onto the bigger debts. The method really depends on the type of debt you have, but the important part is that you're paying it off. :)